1702. empaizó
Lexical Summary
empaizó: To mock, to ridicule, to make fun of

Original Word: ἐμπαίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: empaizó
Pronunciation: em-pah'-id-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (emp-aheed'-zo)
KJV: mock
NASB: mocked, mocking, mock, ridicule, tricked
Word Origin: [from G1722 (ἔν - among) and G3815 (παίζω - play)]

1. (properly) to make sport of as a child (teasing, harassing, etc.)
2. (concretely) to mock, deride
3. (by implication) to belittle

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
mock.

From en and paizo; to jeer at, i.e. Deride -- mock.

see GREEK en

see GREEK paizo

HELPS Word-studies

1702 empaízō (from 1722 /en, "in" and 3815 /paízō, "play") – properly, to sport someone, mock (scoff).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from en and paizó
Definition
to mock at
NASB Translation
mock (2), mocked (5), mocking (4), ridicule (1), tricked (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1702: ἐμπαίζω

ἐμπαίζω (see ἐν, III. 3); imperfect ἐνέπαιζον; future ἐμπαιξω (Mark 10:34 for the more common ἐμπαιξοῦμαι and ἐμπαίξομαι); 1 aorist ἐνεπαιξα (for the older ἐνεπαισα); passive, 1 aorist ἐνεπαίχθην (Matthew 2:16, for the older ἐνεπαίσθην); 1 future ἐμπαιχθήσομαι; (cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 240f; Krüger, § 40 under the word παίζω; (Veitch, ibid.); Buttmann, 64f (56f)); to play in, τίνι, Psalm 103:26 (); Euripides, Bacch. 867. to play with, trifle with (Latinilludere) i. e.

a. to mock: absolutely, Matthew 20:19; Matthew 27:41; Mark 10:34; Mark 15:31; Luke 23:11; τίνι (Herodotus 4, 134), Matthew 27:29 (31); Mark 15:20; Luke 14:29; Luke 22:63; Luke 23:36; in passive Luke 18:32.

b. to delude, deceive, (Sophocles Ant. 799); in passive Matthew 2:16 (Jeremiah 10:15).

Topical Lexicon
Nature of Mockery in Scripture

The verb ἐμπαίζω portrays deliberate ridicule that wounds by treating the serious as trivial or contemptible. In biblical theology it functions as a barometer of hardness of heart: to mock what God esteems is to expose one’s estrangement from Him. Scripture therefore records mockery not merely as social rudeness but as moral rebellion.

Mockery of the Messiah

The Gospels concentrate the term around the Passion predictions and events:
• “They will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked” (Matthew 20:19; Mark 10:34; Luke 18:32).
• The soldiers, chief priests, and rulers fulfill that prophecy (Matthew 27:29, 31, 41; Mark 15:20, 31; Luke 22:63; 23:36).

This sustained emphasis underscores two truths: (1) Jesus knowingly embraced a path that included public humiliation, and (2) the ridicule itself authenticated His identity as the Suffering Servant foretold in Psalms 22:7–8 and Isaiah 53:3. The mockers unwittingly proved the Scriptures true.

Prophetic Fulfillment and Redemptive Irony

Luke 18:32 announces in advance what Luke 23 records, proving that divine sovereignty governs even human scorn. The irony reaches its peak in the taunt, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself” (Mark 15:31), for by refusing to save Himself He was saving others. Mockery, intended to shame, becomes a stage for revelation.

Mockery in Jesus’ Teaching

In the parable of the unfinished tower Jesus warns, “All who see it will mock him” (Luke 14:29). Here ridicule is a social penalty for failed discipleship; disciples who do not carry the cross to the end invite the same derision that scoffers directed at Christ. The word thus links the cost of discipleship with the experience of the Master.

Herodian Mockery and Political Power

Matthew 2:16 records Herod’s fury when “he realized that he had been outwitted by the magi.” The king who wished to mockingly manipulate the situation finds himself mocked instead. Earthly power proves inadequate against God’s hidden plan, echoing Psalm 2:4, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs.”

Patterns and Theological Observations

1. Concentration in Passion narratives shows ridicule as the climactic human response to divine holiness.
2. Gentiles and Jews alike participate, revealing universal sin.
3. Mockery is both predicted and permitted, demonstrating God’s control over evil for redemptive ends.
4. The same root appears in 2 Peter 3:3 for “scoffers,” projecting the pattern into eschatology: derision of Christ continues until His return.

Pastoral and Practical Implications

• Expectation of Ridicule: Believers should not be surprised when fidelity invites scorn (Galatians 6:7–8 contextually parallels the sowing-and-reaping principle to mocking God).
• Response to Mockery: Jesus answered with silence, prayer, and steadfast obedience, providing the template for Christian suffering (1 Peter 2:23).
• Evangelistic Opportunity: The cross transforms insult into invitation; those who once mocked (Acts 2:13) may repent when confronted with the risen Lord (Acts 2:37).

Ministry Significance

Church history is replete with servants who endured derision for the gospel. Memorizing and preaching the texts containing ἐμπαίζω equip believers to interpret opposition biblically, fortify courage, and comfort the persecuted.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1702 threads through the Gospel narrative as an instrument of prophetic fulfillment, a diagnostic of unbelief, and a call to persevering discipleship. By turning the world’s scorn into the theater of redemption, God invites every generation to behold the crucified One and choose worship over mockery.

Forms and Transliterations
εμπαίζει εμπαιζειν εμπαίζειν έμπαιζειν ἐμπαίζειν εμπαιζόμενον εμπαίζοντας εμπαιζοντες εμπαίζοντες ἐμπαίζοντες εμπαίζων εμπαιξαι εμπαίξαι εμπαίξαί ἐμπαῖξαι εμπαιξας εμπαίξας ἐμπαίξας εμπαίξεται εμπαίξονταί εμπαιξουσιν εμπαίξουσιν ἐμπαίξουσιν εμπαίξωσί εμπαίξωσιν εμπαιχθησεται εμπαιχθήσεται ἐμπαιχθήσεται εμπεπαιγμένα εμπεπαιχα εμπέπαιχάς ενεπαιζον ενέπαιζον ἐνέπαιζον ενεπαιξαν ενέπαιξαν ενέπαιξάν ἐνέπαιξαν ενέπαιξεν ενεπαιχθη ενεπαίχθη ἐνεπαίχθη λέγοντες empaichthesetai empaichthēsetai empaichthḗsetai empaixai empaîxai empaixas empaíxas empaixousin empaíxousin empaizein empaízein empaizontes empaízontes enepaichthe enepaichthē enepaíchthe enepaíchthē enepaixan enépaixan enepaizon enépaizon legontes
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 2:16 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν
NAS: saw that he had been tricked by the magi,
KJV: that he was mocked of
INT: having seen that he had been tricked by the

Matthew 20:19 V-ANA
GRK: εἰς τὸ ἐμπαῖξαι καὶ μαστιγῶσαι
NAS: Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge
KJV: to mock, and
INT: to mock and to flog

Matthew 27:29 V-AIA-3P
GRK: ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες
NAS: before Him and mocked Him, saying,
KJV: before him, and mocked him, saying,
INT: before him they mocked him saying

Matthew 27:31 V-AIA-3P
GRK: καὶ ὅτε ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῷ ἐξέδυσαν
NAS: After they had mocked Him, they took
KJV: after that they had mocked him,
INT: And when they had mocked him they took off

Matthew 27:41 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐμπαίζοντες μετὰ τῶν
NAS: and elders, were mocking [Him] and saying,
KJV: the chief priests mocking [him], with
INT: the chief priests mocking with the

Mark 10:34 V-FIA-3P
GRK: καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ
NAS: They will mock Him and spit
KJV: And they shall mock him, and
INT: And they will mock him and

Mark 15:20 V-AIA-3P
GRK: καὶ ὅτε ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῷ ἐξέδυσαν
NAS: After they had mocked Him, they took
KJV: when they had mocked him,
INT: And when they had mocked him they took off

Mark 15:31 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐμπαίζοντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους
NAS: along with the scribes, were mocking [Him] among
KJV: the chief priests mocking said
INT: the chief priests mocking among one another

Luke 14:29 V-PNA
GRK: ἄρξωνται αὐτῷ ἐμπαίζειν
NAS: who observe it begin to ridicule him,
KJV: that behold [it] begin to mock him,
INT: should begin him to mock

Luke 18:32 V-FIP-3S
GRK: ἔθνεσιν καὶ ἐμπαιχθήσεται καὶ ὑβρισθήσεται
NAS: over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated
KJV: and shall be mocked, and
INT: Gentiles and will be mocked and will be insulted

Luke 22:63 V-IIA-3P
GRK: συνέχοντες αὐτὸν ἐνέπαιζον αὐτῷ δέροντες
NAS: who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating
KJV: that held Jesus mocked him, and smote
INT: were holding him mocked him beating [him]

Luke 23:11 V-APA-NMS
GRK: αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐμπαίξας περιβαλὼν ἐσθῆτα
NAS: after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed
KJV: and mocked [him], and arrayed
INT: of him and having mocked [him] having put on apparel

Luke 23:36 V-AIA-3P
GRK: ἐνέπαιξαν δὲ αὐτῷ
NAS: also mocked Him, coming
KJV: the soldiers also mocked him, coming
INT: mocked moreover him

Strong's Greek 1702
13 Occurrences


ἐμπαιχθήσεται — 1 Occ.
ἐμπαῖξαι — 1 Occ.
ἐμπαίξας — 1 Occ.
ἐμπαίξουσιν — 1 Occ.
ἐμπαίζειν — 1 Occ.
ἐμπαίζοντες — 2 Occ.
ἐνεπαίχθη — 1 Occ.
ἐνέπαιξαν — 4 Occ.
ἐνέπαιζον — 1 Occ.

1701b
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